I can still clearly recall the enthusiasm of past boards and community to get our pools back from the brink (the second time literally from the brink of the Wai Mokihi),and to reopen them so our children could learn to swim and be safe in the water. I was the sceptic because all I could see were the $$, the hard work, maintenance and person power needed to make this possible. We had had a series of vandalism incidents and break-ins, and some local ratbags, who didn't have keys, were using stand over tactics with our families. This year it has been fantastic thanks to the vigilance of the pool committee, keyholders, lots of cameras and our And yet here we are thanks to Nick, Rachel, Nicki, Justine and Aaron who are the current Pool Committee. The pool expertise has been given as a koha to the community and many times the chemicals and equipment have come as a gift or at greatly reduced costs. Between them, they have spent hundreds of hours to ensure that our pool remains open and functioning. The expertise of Nick and Aaron means that we have the highest levels of water quality, rivalling local council facilities. This creates a wee problem for the future because the pools have become so popular that we might have to place limits on the numbers of the tickets that we can sell in the season.
If you are willing to make a commitment and to pay forward some of the benefits that you have had from the school pool, then I know that the pool committee would love to hear from you. We are about giving back, and not just taking. Our school has been built on kindness, manaaki and whanaungatanga. Our school whanau and the generosity of our local community are at the heart of what we have built here at Te Ara Koropiko West Spreydon.
And so to the school swimming sports. We had a lovely day, parent helpers and supporters, clean water, shade , great organization, anticipation, Kaiako and kaiāwhina, and tamariki galore. Everyone who could had a go in at least one event.
Roy was a volunteer coach for an afternoon group who wanted to get hints on competitive strategies and improved stroke.
Congratulations to our champions and our "give-it-a goers." I look at some of those events from a scientific viewpoint sometimes and wonder, "Is that floating, or is that sinking.?"
It was a fantastic day and I go back to the original dream of past folk, who wanted commercial quality pools, where all children could learn to swim and where the community could spend many happy hours creating family memories.
Thank you everyone.
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